One Step Ahead

With significant investment in technology and the future of travel content, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is in the process of rolling out a brand-new sales tool to all global sales offices, where immersive 360-degree videos of its 94 hotels and resorts can be viewed on Samsung Gear Virtual Reality headsets in 2016.

Powered by Oculus, the Gear VR headsets will enable travel advisors, meeting planners and potential corporate clients to virtually experience Shangri-La hotels and destinations around the world. The virtual reality technology, which has evolved to be affordable, light and portable, will be used as promotional and educational tools at tradeshows, industry events and sales meetings.

Through offering a completely immersive experience, the group's trade partners and customers can have a better understanding of the Shangri-La product and experience. The videos can be watched online on a 360-degree video player or freely downloaded and viewed on a VR headset using the Oculus platform.

Nearly half of the hotel portfolio will have VR videos available by January 2016, with full roll-out to be completed in 2016. Please go to www.shangri-la.com/VR for more details.